Page 40 - MWC 10-5-2023s

The Midwest Cattleman · October 5, 2023 · P40
Deciding to Keep or Sell Heifers

K-State cattle experts offer tips on how to make this choice.

By Lisa Moser, K-State Research and Extension

When making a big life de- Dustin Pendell, K-State agri-
cision, many people turn to cultural economist.
making a pros and cons list Along with that, K-State
to help them logically work veterinarian Brian Lubbers
through the process. said the current market price
In agriculture, that often is also a factor worth consid-
leads to creating a spread- ering.
sheet to calculate costs, de- “Calf prices are high right
preciation, and potential for now and so that makes
a return on the investment, the opportunity cost really
say cattle experts at Kansas high,” Lubbers said. “If you
State University. are thinking about contract-
One of the decisions that ing the herd a little bit, now
many cow-calf producers face might be a good time to sell a
at fall weaning is determin- few extra calves.”
ing which heifers to keep For those who prefer to
and which ones to sell. This raise their replacement heif- are daughters of a quality “In some parts of the
was the topic of a recent Cat- ers, K-State veterinarian sire,” Larson said. “I need her country, there aren’t ample
tle Chat podcast, produced Bob Larson said he prioritiz- to be born early because she feed supplies to carry cattle
through the Beef Cattle In- es keeping heifers that give will be the most likely to get through the winter. In that
stitute at K-State. him the best odds of success. pregnant early and stay in case, producers may need to
“Every operation is going to “The best bet heifers that the herd a long time.” sell the heifers and look to
be a little different, but when have the highest likelihood Even if the heifer meets buy bred heifers and cows
deciding whether to keep or of being a long-term cow are the genetic and tempera- in the spring and summer
sell replacement heifers, pro- ones that were born early in ment criteria, Larson said if after this time of limited feed
ducers need to assess if they the calving season to a dam she was born late in the calv- resources has passed,” Lan-
have the labor and resources that has a good disposition ing season she falls to his caster said.
available to raise them,” said and high genetic quality and sell-list. K-State veterinarian Brad
When thinking about re- White encouraged producers
sources, the experts agree to start thinking now about
that it is important to think their management plan for 6 1 0 1 0 2 , 0 3 r e b m e t p e S n a m e l t t a C t s e w d i M e h T
about the amount of weight the fall.
the heifers need to gain be-
BSE Clinic Time “You need to pencil it out
tween weaning and breeding. because keeping this year’s
By Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension
“Depending on the mature heifers is going to make them
size of the cowherd, most We’ve scheduled four clinics of cows keep coming back in progeny differences (EPDs) and
Has your bull had a breeding be more expensive cows as
heifers will need to gain 300 compared to other years,”
soundness exam (BSE) since where you can get your bulls heat. There are no other out- breeding programs or whatever
pounds between weaning
you pulled him from the breed- White said. “Producers need
completely examined, given ward signs of trich in the bull is on your mind. Ed Trotter with
ing pasture this summer? Fer- parasite control treatment and or cow for that matter. Pfizer will be at some of the clin-
and breeding,” said K-State to dive into the spreadsheets
tility and breeding ability can vaccinated and be ready to turn ics with information on their
beef cattle nutritionist Phil- now to calculate the right
fluctuate in bulls from year-to- out if everything checks out Here are the dates and loca- DNA evaluation program.
lip Lancaster.
number of heifers to keep
year and season-to-season. If okay. In addition, if you’d like, tions of our fall clinics. Call the above veterinary of-
He recommends produc- before running the cattle
you’ve preg checked your cows they can check your bull for the fices for your appointment time.
ers calculate the expected through the chutes at wean-
and found several open, it just sexually transmitted disease, October 11 - Barry County Vet Of course, there’s a limit to the
daily gain and compare that ing.”
might be cause to check him trichomoniasis. Trich is on the Services, Cassville number of bulls the clinics can
to what feed resources are
out. rise in this part of the world. It’s Contact: Dr. Voyd Brown, 847- accept so you may need to pick a
available.
suspected when a large number 2677 different time and/or a different
veterinarian. It’s just important
Buffalo Livestock Market Clinic, Billings A survey of cow-calf farms in
October 12 - Kent Veterinary to have your bulls checked out.
Contact Dr. Harvey Kent, 744- 24 states in 2008 showed that
Special Cattle Sale Special 2222 about 25% do a semen evalua-
• Animals instinctively open our aps Sheep tion on their bulls before turn-
• Our aps will not freeze like ball closures do Vaccinated Every Watch our Stock Cow & October 13 - Dake Veterinary out. I doubt if we’re that high
• We have less water contamination from animal wastes Cattle Saturday sale live on the & Bull Sale Goat Sale Clinic, Miller in southwest Missouri. The
Internet at
• Ten Models - For a few animals or for the largest feedyards Sale 12:00 Noon www.CattleUSA.com Contact: Dr. Chuck Dake, 452- October BSE clinics in the past
2nd Sat. of Selling all classes 3rd Tuesday 4th Tuesday 3301 few years have found more prob-
Each Month of cattle lems with bulls than the clinics
October 14 - Countryside Ani- in March. Hot weather could
mal Clinic, Aurora be more of a problem than cold
Lyle Caselman - Owner-Manager: 417-345-7876 • Mobile: 417-533-2944 Contact: Dr. Mike Bloss, 678- when it comes to bull fertility. It
Zeitlow Distributing - McPherson, KS • 800-364-1605 • Boonville, MO • 800-530-5158
Leon Caselman - Owner: 417-345-4514 • Mobile: 417-588-6185 4011 could even be from fescue toxins
SoMo Agri Supply - Springfield, MO • 800-725-1880 Call Lyle or Leon to find out what we can do for you: consumed or a combination of
Central Missouri Feed & Supply - 2707 W Rt F • Clark, MO • 573-881-1798
threebarl@hotmail.com Danny Cross 417-576-5461 • John Sanwald 417-588-9113 • Bobby Cole 573-674-3131 Besides the BSE, I will be at factors.
OR SEE AN MFA DEALER the clinics to answer questions,
WWW.PRIDEOFTHEFARM.COM 800-553-1791 Barn 417-345-8122 discuss bull sales, expected

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